The 2018 Copa Sudamericana first stage was played from 13 February to 23 May 2018. A total of 44 teams competed in the first stage to decide 22 of the 32 places in the second stage of the 2018 Copa Sudamericana.
<section begin=Draw /> The draw for the first stage was held on 20 December 2017, 20:00 PYST (), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay. For the first stage, the teams were divided into two pots according to their geographical zones:
The 44 teams were drawn into 22 ties (E1âÂÂE22) between a team from Pot A and a team from Pot B, with the teams from Pot B hosting the second leg in odd-numbered ties, and the teams from Pot A hosting the second leg in even-numbered ties. This distribution ensured that teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same tie.<section end=Draw />
<section begin=Format /> In the first stage, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If tied on aggregate, the away goals rule would be used. If still tied, extra time would not be played, and the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 27).
The 22 winners of the first stage advanced to the second stage to join the 10 teams transferred from the Copa Libertadores (two best teams eliminated in the third stage of qualifying and eight third-placed teams in the group stage).<section end=Format />
The first legs were played on 13, 15, 20âÂÂ22 February, 10âÂÂ12 and 18 April, and the second legs were played on 6âÂÂ8 March, 8âÂÂ10 and 23 May 2018. <section begin=First stage />
<section end=First stage />
Tied 2âÂÂ2 on aggregate, Caracas won on away goals and advanced to the second stage.
Deportes Temuco won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Lanús won 5âÂÂ4 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Deportivo Cali won 5âÂÂ3 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
San Lorenzo won 1âÂÂ0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Tied 4âÂÂ4 on aggregate, LDU Quito won on away goals and advanced to the second stage.
Tied 0âÂÂ0 on aggregate, Nacional won on penalties and advanced to the second stage.
Cerro won 2âÂÂ0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Tied 3âÂÂ3 on aggregate, Sol de América won on away goals and advanced to the second stage.
General DÃÂaz won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Tied 2âÂÂ2 on aggregate, Deportivo Cuenca won on penalties and advanced to the second stage.
Rampla Juniors won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Defensa y Justicia won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Atlético Paranaense won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Sport Huancayo won 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Boston River won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
São Paulo won 1âÂÂ0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
El Nacional won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Bahia won 4âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Colón won 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Botafogo won 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
Fluminense won 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.